Pires apologises after spot-kick gaffe

Robert Pires apologised to Arsene Wenger for the bizarre penalty miss that could have proved costly for Arsenal against Manchester City today.

The Gunners won 1-0 thanks to Pires' 60th-minute spot-kick - but it was his second attempt from 12 yards that was the talking point of this match.

Instead of shooting when awarded a second penalty in the 73rd minute, Pires attempted to pass to Thierry Henry, but the trick backfired when referee Mike Riley awarded City a free-kick as he believed the French winger had touched the ball twice.

But Riley and his assistants came to Arsenal's rescue seven minutes later, disallowing Darius Vassell's 80th-minute header to ensure Wenger's team made it five Premiership wins from five as the Highbury boss celebrated his 56th birthday.

"Robert came to me after the game, telling me he was sorry and that he had made a big mistake," Wenger said.

"But as a manager, you have to live with these things. My reaction after the incident was one of surprise.

"Maybe if Robert had missed the first penalty, you could have understood had he tried to pass the ball as he would have been shaky.

"But he should have been full of confidence after smashing in the first penalty so marvellously."

Wenger's opposite number Stuart Pearce stopped short of accusing Arsenal of presumptuousness for their unconventional penalty - but admitted he had been unhappy with the award of the first spot-kick.

With the score at 0-0, Riley ruled in Arsenal's favour when Henry - making his first Arsenal start since August 24 after recovering from a groin injury - tumbled under the challenge of City goalkeeper David James.

Pires struck that penalty perfectly, leaving Pearce and his team feeling hard done-by.

Pearce said: "It looked like Thierry Henry dived over David James' arms and my players are disappointed - but Henry is a clever player.

"But we will go with the referee on that one, because he made an honest decision.

"As for the second penalty, when you try something that is different from the norm in football, you will be accused of arrogance.

"But you could also say that it was a clever training-ground ploy [that didn't come off]."

Pearce's side had little difficulty containing their hosts, but the former England defender wished his players had shown a little more ambition in attack.

Apart from Vassell's header that was ruled out, City rarely troubled the Arsenal rearguard and had only speculative efforts from Kiki Musampa to show for their forward play.

"Arsenal won't have too many afternoons where they are restricted to so few chances," Pearce continued.

"But maybe we were too cautious. We stifled Arsenal - but we could have got something from the game if we had gone for it a bit more."

Wenger, meanwhile, believes it is highly unlikely Pires will again be so unorthodox from the penalty spot.

"At least Robert has been 'vaccinated' for life," he reflected. "He was scared that he would hit it too hard.

"But in the end he made a mess of it because he did not hit it hard enough."